OpenAI is repurchasing $7 billion in employee shares in preparation for a potential IPO, maintaining a valuation of $852 billion.

According to the Zhitong Finance APP, OpenAI has completed a transaction that assists employees in selling approximately $7 billion worth of company shares, in preparation for a potential initial public offering (IPO). Two informed sources stated that in this tender offer, OpenAI is repurchasing shares from current and former employees, rather than seeking external investors as it has in the pastpreviously, OpenAI had invited investors including Thrive Capital and SoftBank Group to purchase shares held by employees. The sources indicated that this transaction values the startup at $852 billion, consistent with its valuation during the most recent funding round.